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First Music Festival concludes Jockey Club's annual green drive on a high note

01/19/2013

Close to 2,000 employees of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and their families and friends sang their support for a green Hong Kong at Sha Tin Racecourse today (19 January) alongside local artists, performers from Club staff members and community organisations at the Club's first-ever "Green Music Festival".

The Festival ensured that the Club's latest Green Action programme, now its third year, concluded on a fittingly high note.  The annual event is part of the Club's efforts to enhance sustainability awareness among Hong Kong people by mobilising its 26,000-strong workforce to serve as "Green Ambassadors", in keeping with the Club's long-standing commitment to connect with the community it serves.

Guests joining today's special event to celebrate the Club's green achievements in 2012 included Chairman of the Legislative Council’s Panel on Environmental Affairs The Hon Cyd Ho, as well as representatives of local green and community organisations. 

Unique to the Music Festival was its green admission system designed to encourage recycling among Club employees, their families and friends, by requiring them to donate a recyclable item in exchange for a ticket.  This innovative idea received a huge response, resulting in over 2,000 CDs, DVDs, books and other gift items being collected.  These will be donated to the needy through a number of non-government organisations.

Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said at the opening ceremony that the Club had developed a comprehensive Environmental Policy to drive real green changes. “Within the Club, we have a clear vision of embedding sustainability into our culture and operations, and this has helped reduce our ‘hoofprint’ in many areas,” he told the guests. 

With its own commitments and the concerted efforts of all staff members in reducing waste and optimising energy consumption, the Club cut its carbon emissions by 2,200 tonnes last year, equivalent to planting some 100,000 trees. The Club had also been supporting environmental initiatives in the community for more than two decades through its role as a major charitable benefactor, Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges added.

“All major investments in our operations and in the community through charity donations are made possible by the Club’s unique not-for-profit business model, which channels the public’s propensity for gaming into valuable tax dollars and community donations,” he observed.

Legislator Cyd Ho commented that air quality had become worse following the increase in carbon emissions in recent years.  She praised the Club for its contributions in raising awareness of environmental protection among its staff and members of the public.  “I realise the Club has contributed to the project named CUHK Jockey Club Initiative Gaia, enabling findings of scientific research and knowledge of sustainable development to be spread over to different strata in the community.  This helps minimise wastage of resources and build sustainable Hong Kong,” she said.

The Club has been proactively supporting environmental projects in the community since the 1980s, aiming to spread green messages and raise public awareness of sustainability issues.  Since 2010, it has also taken a lead in promoting glass bottle recycling. Last year it collected 88,000 kilograms of used glass bottles from its racecourse and clubhouse outlets for recycling into eco-bricks, enough to cover 43,000 square metres of the city’s pavements.

In November last year, Club funding enabled the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency to launch its Carbon Disclosure Platform – the city’s first web-based channel for organisations to communicate their carbon emissions performance, as a means to promote low-carbon management. The many accolades received by Club-led green projects last year are testimony to its wide-ranging contributions made to Hong Kong’s sustainable growth.

The Club’s latest initiative to promote sustainability is its funding of HK$54 million to The Chinese University of Hong Kong to undertake a five-year community engagement programme, entitled CUHK Jockey Club Initiative Gaia. Part of a HK$350 million multi-pronged Environment Project initiated by the Club in 2008, this new programme is designed to encourage active public participation in green initiatives and create a more sustainable community through knowledge transfer, public education programmes and carbon reduction partnerships.

Today’s event was the closing highlight of the Club's 2012 Green Action programme, aimed at engaging its 26,000 employees Club-wide in green living concepts through  a diverse range of activities such as low-carbon menus in staff restaurants, seminars, coastal clean-up exercises and recycling campaigns.  Complementing the musical performances on stage were green booths and workshops demonstrating how staff could blend sustainability concepts into their everyday lives – including the “upcycling” of used wood and plastic materials into exquisite homeware.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.7 billion in 2012. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$16 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.

Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges says the Club endeavours to enhance sustainability awareness among Hong Kong people by mobilising its employees to serve as a£į?Green Ambassadorsa£į?, in keeping with the Cluba£į?s long-standing commitment to connect with the community it serves.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges says the Club endeavours to enhance sustainability awareness among Hong Kong people by mobilising its employees to serve as a£į?Green Ambassadorsa£į?, in keeping with the Cluba£į?s long-standing commitment to connect with the community it serves.

Chairman of the Legislative Councila£į?s Panel on Environmental Affairs The Hon Cyd Ho praises the Club for its contributions over the years towards realising a sustainable Hong Kong.
Chairman of the Legislative Councila£į?s Panel on Environmental Affairs The Hon Cyd Ho praises the Club for its contributions over the years towards realising a sustainable Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right) presents a Carbon Credit certificate of 7 tonnes to Legislative Councillor The Hon Cyd Ho (left), rallying her support for the green cause.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right) presents a Carbon Credit certificate of 7 tonnes to Legislative Councillor The Hon Cyd Ho (left), rallying her support for the green cause.

Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (1st row, 4th from left) and Club senior management join Legislative Councillor The Hon Cyd Ho (1st row, 3rd from left) and guests in opening the a£į?Green Music Festivala£į?. Club management includes Executive Director, Finance Angus Lee (1st row, 1st from left); Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Kim Mak (1st row, 2nd from left); Executive Director, Information Technology Christoph Ganswindt (1st row, 3rd from right); Executive Director, Channels and Organisational Development Gary Chow (1st row, 2nd from right) and Director, Human Resources and Sustainability Mimi Cunningham (1st row, 1st from right).
Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (1st row, 4th from left) and Club senior management join Legislative Councillor The Hon Cyd Ho (1st row, 3rd from left) and guests in opening the a£į?Green Music Festivala£į?. Club management includes Executive Director, Finance Angus Lee (1st row, 1st from left); Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Kim Mak (1st row, 2nd from left); Executive Director, Information Technology Christoph Ganswindt (1st row, 3rd from right); Executive Director, Channels and Organisational Development Gary Chow (1st row, 2nd from right) and Director, Human Resources and Sustainability Mimi Cunningham (1st row, 1st from right).

Photos 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9:<br>
Close to 2,000 employees of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and their families and friends attend the Club's first-ever a£į?Green Music Festivala£į?, enjoying entertaining performances and green booths.
Photos 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9:
Close to 2,000 employees of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and their families and friends attend the Club's first-ever a£į?Green Music Festivala£į?, enjoying entertaining performances and green booths.





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